BTS agency HYBE announces auditions through HYBE India to scout local talent

Fresh on the heels of the release of the BTS comeback album Arirang, HYBE, the global entertainment company behind the K-pop superstar group is now opening its doors to aspiring music talent from the country. Through HYBE India, auditions are set to take place in major cities across the country including Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune. 

In September last year, HYBE India set up its headquarters in Mumbai, marking the company’s fifth international hub after Japan, the US, Latin America and China. The move gained significant attention, and excitement from fans who believed that India might soon play host to a BTS concert. In December, the first official BTS-related experience for fans here, Jungkook’s GOLDEN: The Moments exhibition was hosted in Mumbai. 

The auditions will now officially mark HYBE India’s official entry into India’s talent ecosystem, in an effort to expand its global artist discovery initiatives, a statement read. “As part of HYBE’s globally proven ‘multi-home, multi-genre’ strategy, HYBE INDIA will localize the artist development approach — known for discovering, training, and building internationally successful acts — for India. With a legacy of shaping culturally resonant artists such as 21st-century pop icons BTS and global girl group KATSEYE, the company now sets its sights on India to discover and develop the next generation of global stars,” HYBE India said. Through the auditions,  selected applicants will be given a chance to enter HYBE’s training and production ecosystem, and to represent India on the global stage. 

Several K-pop groups, including BTS, are the result of applicants and talents that have been scouted and put through multiple rounds of auditions, followed by rigorous training. With India’s significant fan base and large pool of talent, these auditions on home turf are expected to yield a significant turnout.

The auditions will take place through a combination of online and offline formats. While announcements are awaited regarding the timelines, eligibility and participation guidelines, HYBE India confirms that in-person auditions have been planned in key cities which include Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune.

Talent from India and the Indian diaspora has been steadily making its mark in Korean and global music groups. This includes Aria, who is part of the K-pop group X:IN, and Sriya Lenka, a member of BLACKSWAN. Meanwhile, KATSEYE, a global girl group formed by HYBE, features Lara Raj, an Indian-American singer of Tamil origin among its members.